Garment guard for hangers



May 13, 1941-.-

A BERKE GARMENT GUARD FOR HANGERS Filed April 3, 1939 INVENTOR flare/7 Bark e ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE(2,241,697 v GARMENT GUARD FOR HANGERS Aaron Berke, New York, N. Y.Application April 3, 1939, Serial No, 265,70

9 Claims. (Cl. 2 23-98) The present invention relates to garment guardsfor use in connection with hangers such, forv instance, as thecombination coat and trousers hanger generally used in the shops oftailors,

cleaners, dyers, and others, and on which de-;

livery of garments is often made.

Hangers of the character mentioned are commonly in the form of a wiretriangle suspended by a hook, the shank of the hook protrudingvertically upward from the apex of the triangle.

The sloping reaches of the triangle may serve as a support for a coat orskirt, and the cross reach as a bar over which trousers or otherarticles may be hung.

As compared with Wooden-hangers, the wire! they naturally fall into moreor less permanent use by the householder; and moreover may have carriedthe garment for some length of time in the shop before delivery wasmade. Further compared with the wooden and other hangers, they have thedisadvantage that they often stain delicate fabrics, and that theypresent such a narrow supporting surface, or edge, to the gar- 'mentthat the latter by reason of its own weight acquires disfiguring creasesalong lines where it contacts with the wire, when left suspended thereonfor any considerable time.

Heretofore, cardboard tubes and shields have been variously positionedon the wire hanger to prevent contact of the garment with the hanger atcertain parts of the latter, and to provide broader bearing surfacesthereon for the garments. They have usually been disconnected units, andhave failed to provide a full form protection for the garment, or toprotect all parts thereof. Many have been inconvenient to keep in stock,or troublesome in the application thereof to the hanger.

An object of the invention is a one-piece, preferably fiat, blank ofcardboard or like material, such as may be kept in stock in considerablequantity without sacrifice of desirable space in the shop of a tailor orcleaner, and which has crease lines and cuts so demarked thereon asenable it to be folded onto the hanger and locked thereto againstdisplacement, all in a single operation or movement which is as simpleof accomplishment as the placement of a coat on the hanger.

A further object ofthe invention is a blank, and garment guard formedtherefrom, such as to provide acne-piece cape over all parts of theinclined reaches of the hanger and over the shoulder points thereof, andwhich while .adapted tov besupportedby. the hanger from end to endthereof, may be. broadly arched thereover in such manner as to provide abroad, unshifting, and form support for a coat or other garment thereon.

A further object of the invention is a one-piece blank, or garment guardformed therefrom, such :as to provide a broad garment carrying surfacearched over, supported by, anddepending as an apron around the crossreach of the hanger. and locked. to the upper part of the hanger againstdisplacement thereon.

A.further object of the invention is a one-piece blank, or garment guardformed therefrom, such as to provide, in combination, the abovementioned cape and apron features, covering all gar-- ment supportingreaches of the hanger.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear uponreference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the blank from which the combined cape andapron guard is formed.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the guard formed from the blank of Fig. 1, inset and locked position on the hanger.

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken in cross section through the uppercentral part of Fig. 2, to show in detail the manner in which the guard.is locked to the hanger.

- Fig. 5 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6is an enlarged detail front view of a section of the. blankvshowing a modified means for locking the guard to the hanger.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of a blank from which the cape guard for theinclined reaches of. the hanger maybe formed, but which has no provisionfor guarding a garment at the cross reach of a hanger.

Referring to the drawing, the blank Ill in Fig. l is shown assubstantially rectangular in form. Converging inward and upward from thesides thereof are two zones II and IQ of crease lines It. A plurality ofsuch crease lines i3, in parallel, in each zone affords a broadly curvedgarment supporting face for the garment along these zones when the blankis bent over the inclined reaches l4 and I5 0f the hanger. For registrywith the hanger reaches l4 and I5, the angle of inclination of thecrease zones H and I2 is preferably the same as the angular dip of thehanger reaches.

Extending across the lower part of the blank, parallel to and at somedistance from the bottom edge II thereof, is a third zone I8 of creaselines l9. Above and at some distance from the crease zone I8 is a slit.2|] in the blank. This slit is preferably arc-shaped to approach thecrease zone I8 at or near the ends thereof. When, therefore, the blankis so set to the hanger that the crease zone I8 registers centrally withthe lower or cross reach 2I of the hanger, the flap 22, formed by slit2!], may be turned into Fig. 3 position, around and down behind suchcross reach 2i. The plurality of crease lines I9 provide for a broadlyarched garment guarding surface over the hanger bar 2|. 7

Centrally of the upper edge 23 of the blank, see Fig. 1, is an aperture24. Connecting the sides of the blank, over aperture 24, is a narrow,straplike part 25 of the blank. This strap is connected to the body ofthe blank along fold lines 26 and 21. It is also creased vertically andcentrally thereof along a fold line 28. It is further provided withdetent ears 29. In the body of the blank, below the aperture 24, and incentral alignment therewith and with the fold line 28 in the strappiece, is a vertical slit 3B. The ends of slit 30 terminate atoppositely arranged V shaped slots 3i. The ends of the slits 3|, at eachside of the slit 35, are connected by crease lines 32, thus defining,with the slit 30, a pair of ears 33 adapted to swing apart on the creaselines 32, for a purpose presently to appear.

The garment carrying reaches I4, I and2I of the triangular Wire hangercarry the usual hook 34 on hook shank 35. In applying the guard to thehanger, the back face of the blank I0 is turned to the hanger. The hook34 and its shank 35 are'passed through the aperture 24 in the 7 blank.The operator, with the hanger and the back face of the blank turnedtoward him, first brings the inclined reaches of the hanger intoregistry with the crease zones II and I2 of the blank. He then bends thewing portions 36 and 31 of the blank toward him, around the crease zonesII and I2. When the bending has carried the wings over the hanger, theoperator simply pinches the wings into engagement with the back face ofthat part of the blank which remains in front of the hanger. He doesthis with his thumbs against the wing portions, and with his forefingersbent over the hanger reaches I4 and I5, and pressed against the frontface of the blank.

This bending of the wing parts 36 and 31 causes the strap part 25 tofold on its vertical crease line 28, and on its lines of connection 26and 21; so that, as the strap swings with the wing parts, it folds intodouble-ply formation, with an edge at its vertical fold line 28 as itsleading edge. After the strap has thus swung a sufficient distance, itpasses around, under the hanger reaches I4 and I5, and forward, in suchdouble-ply formation, through the slit 3!] in the blank. As its leadingedge comes to the slit 30, the ears 33 yield on their fold lines 32 topermit passage of the strap through the front of the blank, until thedetent ears 29 on the strap clear the front face of the blank, whereuponthese detents automatically snap into. interlockment with the front faceof the blank, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and lock the guard to thehanger.

The strap piece need be touched at no time during this operation. Themere pinching operation just described causes the edge of the strap, atits fold line 28, automatically to align itself with the slit 3!], andto maintain that alignment until the locking is effected.

At the completion of the foregoing operation, the guard is so locked tothe hanger that the crease zone I8 of the blank is in registry with thecross reach 2I of the hanger. To apply the guard to this cross reach, itis only necessary to push the flap 22, formed by the slit 20, backward,and to bend it down to Fig. 3 position.

In Fig. 7 is shown a style of blank adapted to be formed into a guardfor use on wooden and other hangers which have no lower cross reach, oron the triangular wire hanger where no use of the lower cross reachthereof is desired; as where the hanger is to be used only for carryingcoats, skirts and other articles on the inclined reaches thereof.

The blank of Fig. '7 is a one piece blank having two centrally connectedwing elements 38 and 39. Crease line zones II and I2, respectively,extend longitudinally thereof at the proper angle for registration withthe inclined reaches I4 and I5 of the hanger. These are of the samecharactor as shown in Fig. 1, and permit each of the wings 38 and 39 tobe bent and arched broadly over one of the reaches of the hanger. Fig. 7shows a strap piece 25 foldable in the same manner as above described inconnection with Fig. l, for interlockment at a slit 30 with the face ofthe blank to lock the guard to the hanger.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a slight modification of the locking elements.The strap piece 25, with its fold lines 28 and 29, is substantially asshown in Fig. 1. Instead, however, of the aperture 24, there is a tab40, formed by an arc-shaped slit 4| and a fold line 42. This tab may bepushed out slightly to permit passage of the hook 34 and hook shank 35through the blank. As the strap piece swings with the'wings elements 36and 31, in the above described locking operation, the tab 40 remainsupright.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the blank is of such shape and so cutas to represent a maximum of economy of stock. There is no wastage. Theoutside face of the blank may be a smooth or calendered surface whichwill not readily become dirty. It may be colored or decorated in anydesired manner. The front surface above the slit 2!! may carry anydesired advertisement or legend. Regardless of smoothness of the finishof the guard, the broad arching and creasing of the fold zones willprevent undesirable slipping of garments thereon. The broad arching ofthe folds gives a more or less full-form effect to the guard whichassists in maintaining the garment in desired shape.

It will be apparent that within the scope of the invention the blanks,as to the several features thereof, may be variously shaped anddesigned.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacturaa unitary blank of cardboard or the like,having crease lines along which to be folded into a garment guard forthe common wire garment hanger, certain of such crease lines converginginward and upward from the sides of the blank for registration with theinclined reaches of the hanger so that the blank may be folded as a capethereover, and a strap element hingeably connected at its opposite endsto the blank body with a passage between the same and the blank body forthe hook-shank of the hanger whereby to hold the blank to thehanger-hook, and having a cross fold-line intermediate its ends so thatwhen the blank is folded to cape formation the strapmay fold on thelines of its hinge connectionsto. the blank body, and on said crossf'oldfline, into double ply condition around one of the inclined reachesof the hanger, and in such condition be forced through an aperture inthe body of the blank; to lock the blank in cape formation on thehanger.

2. As an article of manufacture, a unitary blank of'cardbo'ard or thelike, having crease lines along which to be folded into a garment guardfor the common wire garment hanger, certain of such crease linesconverging inward and upward from the sides of the blank forregistration with the inclined reaches of the hanger, so that the blankmay be folded as a cape thereover, and a strap element hingeablyconnected at its opposite ends to the blank body with a passage betweenthe same and the blank body for the hook-shank of the hanger, whereby tohold the blank to the hanger-hook, and having a cross fold-lineintermediate its ends so that when the blank is folded to cape formationthe strap may fold on the lines of its hinge connections to the blankbody and on said cross fold line, into double ply condition around oneof the inclined reaches of the hanger,

and in such condition be forced through an aperture in the body of theblank, to lock the blank in cape formation on the hanger; the strapbeing detented for interlockment with the body of the blank on suchpassage of the folded strap through the blank body.

3. As an article of manufacture, a unitary blank of cardboard or thelike, having crease lines along which to be folded into a garment guardfor the common wire garment hanger, certain of such crease linesconverging inward and upward from the sides of the blank forregistration with the inclined reaches of the hanger, so that the blankmay be folded as a cape thereover, and a strap element hingablyconnected at its opposite ends to the blank body with a passage betweenthe same and the blank body for the hook-shank of the hanger, whereby tohold the blank to the hanger hook, and having a cross fold-lineintermediate its ends so that when the blank is folded to cape formationthe strap may fold on the lines of its hinge connections to the blankbody, and on the cross fold line, into double ply condition around I oneof the inclined reaches of the hanger, and

in such condition be forced through an aperture in the body of theblank, to lock the blank in cape formation on the hanger; said aperturebeing defined by a vertical slit terminating at its opposite ends incross slits to form a pair of cars which swing apart under pressure ofthe folded strap to permit passage of the latter through the blank body.

4. A garment guard of cardboard or the like for the common triangularwire garment hanger, comprising a portion having oppositely slopingcrease lines for registry with the inclined reaches of the hanger and onwhich crease lines the guard is folded into cape formation, a strapbetween which and the body of the guard the hanger hook and hook-shankmay be passed, folded into double ply for passage under one of theinclined reaches of the hanger and through an aperture in the back ofthe cape, and means for interlocking said folded part of the strap withthe back of the cape.

5. A garment guard of cardboard or the like, for a garment hanger havinginclined shoulder reaches, comprising front and back parts connectedalong converging inclined fold lines which are registerable with theshoulder reaches of the hanger for support, of the guard as a cape onthe hanger, the back part comprising two wing portions, one for eachshoulder, and a part integral with and connecting said wings, said wingconnecting part being foldable under the hanger reaches into holdingengagement with the front part to serve as a means for locking the frontand back parts in cape formation on the hanger and as a means forpreventing downward displacement of the hanger with respect to theguard.

6. A garment guard of cardboard or the like, for a garment hanger havinginclined shoulder reaches, comprising front and back parts connectedalong converging inclined fold lines which are registerable with theshoulder reaches of the hanger for support of the guard as a cape on thehanger, and a part integral with one of said front and back parts andwhich is bent therefrom under said shoulder part of the hanger to theother of said parts, as a support for the hanger, and which connectswith the other of said front and back guard parts to hold such connectedparts in cape formation such other of said parts having provision forthe interlockment thereof with said hanger-supporting part forreleasably holding the latter in hanger-supporting position.

7. For use in connection with a garment hanger of the type in whichthere is a centrally located supporting hook and right and left handshoulder reaches converging upwardly to the shank of the hook, a garmentguard consisting of a sheet of cardboard or the like having fold linesadapted to be registered with the shoulder reaches of the hanger andfoldable on said lines into cape formation over the hanger, thereby tohave a front part and a back part, and means for holding the guard incape formation to the hanger, comprising a detent member bendable out ofone of said front and back parts; under the hook shank, to the other ofsaid front and back parts, said detent member, when in such holdingposition on the hanger being an abutment or seat for the hanger at thejuncture of the shoulder reaches thereof to prevent the hanger fromdropping in the guard when the latter is lifted and said part to whichthe detent projects having provision for the interlockment thereof withthe detent for releasably holding the detent in hanger-supportingposition.

8. For use in connection with a garment hanger of the type in whichthere is a centrally located supporting hook and right and left handshoulder reaches converging upwardly to the shank of the hook, a garmentguard consisting of a sheet of cardboard or the like having fold linesadapted to be registered with the shoulder reaches of the hanger andfoldable on said lines into cape formation over the hanger, thereby tohave a front part and a back part, and means for holding the guard incape formation to the hanger, comprising a detent member which is anintegral part of said sheet and which is bendable out of one of saidfront and back parts, under the hook shank, to the other of said frontand back parts, said detent member, when so attached, being an abutmentor seat for the hanger at the juncture of the shoulder reaches thereofto prevent the hanger from dropping in the guard when the latter islifted and said part to which the detent projects having provision forthe interlockment thereof with the detent for releasably holding thedetent in hanger-supporting position.

. 9. As an article of manufacture, a unitary blank of cardboard on thelike, having crease lines along which to be folded into a garment guardfor the common wire garment hanger, certain of said crease linesconverging inward and upward from the sides of the blank forregistration with the inclined reaches of the hanger and demarking afront part of the guard from a back part thereof so that the blank maybe folded as a cape over the hanger, the back part comprising right andleft pieces relatively movable for application of the guard to thehanger, and a strap element permanently and flexibly connecting one tothe other said relatively movable pieces; said blank having a passagebetween the strap and the blank body for the hook-shank of the hanger,and means on-such front part of the guard for engagement with the strapto hold the guard in its folded condition.

AARON BERKE.

